Knight-Master Lei Wen Hou shifted from one foot to the other, shook out his robes, and fixed a smile on his face as the first carriage arrived. Manager Doak took charge of helping the Go family members disembark and led them to the reception line of trainees and instructors. The family moved together with the solemn deliberation their rank demanded. The trainees responded in the most formal of tones, even to their fellow trainee, Go San Jin.

"Come on guys, didn't we just see each other?" The lanky young man with impossibly broad shoulders teased. "Junseo must have drilled you for hours, and hours," San Jin said trying to attract his team leader's attention. Junseo did not acknowledge the jab. His gaze was fixed on the carriage just entering the courtyard.

Palace guards arrayed themselves around the vehicle before signally the footman to help the passengers. Junseo's sister Numni was the first to emerge, her veils slightly askew. Their grandmother was quick to assist her before turning to help the senior court lady who accompanied them. The Dowager's companion rarely set foot outside of the women's palace compounds, and Wen Hou made it clear how honored he was to host her. Madame Go stepped forward with her usual grace to smooth Lady Sen-ju's reception.

"I tried to tell GeeGee this was a family dinner but she would not send us to a bachelor's home unaccompanied," Junseo's grandmother complained. The Knight-master blushed when he realized Madame Min had used a pet name for the Dowager. "Minnie," she insisted he call her, mixed a teasing irreverence in with her very proper manners, and promised to keep everyone on their toes. The only somber note to their entrance was the admission they could not pry Trainee Kim Hae-sung's mother away from his bedside. "I know it was a shock to see her boy so broken but he has the best care and will soon be on the mend."

"Let the gods make it so," a young voice piped in and the other team members soon joined. Numni, startled by the spontaneous expression of faith in unnamed deities, gave her brother a questioning look. He nodded in the direction of the young boy standing next to Brother Kuin. She smiled her recognition of the wide-eyed boy who had been instrumental in Junseo's rescue and accepted his right to call upon the divine.

The last group to arrive came on foot but were given no less respect that those with carriages. Merchant Bon was taken back to see his son leading his team's salute and looked around for an explanation. Manager Doak step forward to explain how the teams worked, including electing their own leaders. He told Xuiyang's mother and father, "The others respect your boy's straight dealing, he is a fine young man. You should be proud." When he overheard this comment Xuiyang blushed and took over getting his parent settled among the other guests.

Madame Min soon monopolized Scout Jia, by far the most fashionable, and flamboyant of their little group. Her flattery made it easier for the younger principal in the training group say more than the others might reveal. He admitted hoping the team-member's standings at the championship would result in more contract work for their group. Merchant Bon overheard this comment and asked about the forge producing goods for sale. "The boy's decided to help out with the fees and other expenses for the championship. It was their own idea." Scout Jia couldn't help sounding a bit defensive.

"Not to worry friend. I'm sure it was very good experience for both teams. No, I only asked because some of my contacts are interested in handling more of the products. Those self-propelled carts are a big hit."

Madam Min gave Journeyman Yang a questioning look and he admitted Junseo had sized up one of his working models. "You mean the boy finally made something useful out of one of his endless toys?" The men around did not know her doubtful tone was meant to tease until Junseo intervened.

"Gramma, you promised to play nice," he said with an exaggerated pout.

"And you promised not to over-do," she said shifting to a more serious tone.

Junseo swallowed hard. "I'm doing ok. Yesterday took a bit out of me but the healers say I'm fine," he said.

"Did they?" she raised an eyebrow.

"My hand might take a while," he mumbled before suggesting it was time for the parent's tour. Journeyman Yang sprang up to offer his arm to Madame Min and the Bon family followed toward the workshop. Along the way Brother Kuin showed off the armory and gave a brief explanation of the boy's regular training regime.

Knight-Master Lei waited at the entrance to the forge and was happy to explain some of the experimental designs they boys were working on. "Minnie" demonstrated a fine eye for the craft and he complimented her on her understanding.

"All those years married to a Royal Engineer, I'd better know my way around bits and bobbles like these," she chuckled. Merchant Bon did a double take when he put together who the lively member of their company must be. Numni only looked embarrassed.

"Both our team leaders have a good feel for this work. I think that's the main reason the other boys respect them so much," the Knight-Master shifted the subject to get them an opening to ask about the craft side of the boy's training.

"I'm glad you want Xuiyang to get ready to sit the general service examinations. We have good reports back from his school," Madame Bon smiled. Her husband was a bit more reticent.

"Its good for our boy to see different aspects of production, but he will be coming back to a merchant house after his mandatory service. I hope he won't end up too far behind on his management skills." He said glancing around the workshop.

Journeyman Yang stepped forward with a notebook he passed over, "We expect proper accounting for all our projects. The boys each get a turn tracking the workshop's revenues and expenses but the team leads keep their own journals."

Merchant Bon recognized his son's handwriting and scanned the pages with interest. "What is this entry?" He pointed to the middle of the page.

Knight-Master Lei leaned in, "Oh, that must have been Junseo. Our regular contracts have profit-sharing for products or inventions, it looks like he paid out the other team out of the advance he got for his last commission. Is there a problem?"

"No, I just wouldn't expect," Merchant Bon double checked the dates, blushed, and stopped talking. His wife nudged his arm.

"We are lucky our very considerate son found such a good situation. Thank you." She spoke firmly while her husband tried to collect himself. At little while later the family had an intense discussion in one of the languages used in the southern islands.

Pange In-Yeon had no trouble understanding the main thread of their dispute but refused to divulge any details. "Ask Xuiyang later," he said, but warned matters of family pride might not be shared.

"But we are family," Chenhui objected.

"Like family, it's not the same," In-Yeon frowned.

"The boy-o is right," Song-hee said from the doorway. "We can't share everything. Not if it involves our true-borns. If I had to guess, I expect it is about debts repaid, but let Xuiyang have his space."

In-Yeon's flush told Chenhui what he needed so he put up both his hands. "Say, do we know where Junseo and San Jin disappeared to after the dorm tour?"

"I think I saw San Jin heading into the workshop with his father. They were both looking pretty serious," Song-hee reported. He looked down at his feet and mumbled, "Seems like they want to make some deal out of me being a hero. You both know I'm not. Not at all. Not when Hae-sung is still fighting for his life."

"What are you talking about? How many times to you need to hear the accident was not your fault? Nobody cares why you went after the bombers the way you did. They only care that hundreds of spectators didn't get hurt." Chenhui punched Song-hee's shoulder and continued, "You need to relax."

Song-hee gave Chenhui a pained look, leaned up against the wall, and closed his eyes.

A subtle signal from her brother told Numni he needed to have a private talk with his grandmother so she made an excuse to join Madame Go and the court lady downstairs. The two women were full of gossip about the Crown Prince and his wives. From the way they told it, prudent political alliances had not yielded a compatible couple. The fits of temper on display made for some amusing stories. Numni chuckled and shook her head, "How difficult to have intimate moments in the public record to be judged by everyone around you."

"Palace raised are used to it," Lady Sen-ju shrugged.

"It is not much different in our little neighborhood, or even down in the market if my servants are to be believed. We might pretend not to be interested but gossip is everywhere," Madame Go smiled slyly then added, "Even among the spectators at the championship."

"Oh bother." Numni's blush set the other women laughing before they mercifully changed the topic.

Junseo knew he didn't have much time to share confidences with the woman who taught him about his stones so quickly explained the problem of not knowing what someone with a single affinity might see or sense from a range of different stones. "The Rainbow-maker's rings nearly blinded me," he whispered, "The sands had sparkles that might have been some kind of test. What if I end up in the crystal round, I don't think I will but, if I did, what should I do?"

"Pick a strong stone out of the ones you have to focus on. Keep it in mind and try not to energize any others." She reached over gave Junseo a gentle pat and continued. "I know it will be hard to keep things separate so maybe experiment a little. Talk with your friends and see if they sense other resonances. Map out what you learn."

"Like a research project?" Junseo stared into the distance for a moment.

"Now you are thinking," the short woman nodded. She looked around the cramped sleeping quarters and wrinkled her nose. "This place is going to reek if you boys aren't careful. Make sure to air out your bedding everyday and don't leave your cloths scattered around."

Junseo blushed at this reminder. His roommates had already complained about his habit of leaving things in a pile at the end of his bed.

He grandmother nodded but then became more serious. "Try not to give the Rainbow-maker an excuse for another assessment. If they claim you, Knight-Master Lei won't be able to keep you out of the palace."

His grandmother's stern warning came immediately to mind when Junseo lined up with the other contestants at the start of the next day's competition. Rainbow-make Mein stood at a table with a course marshal, a judge, and a city guard. A collection of jade jars was arrayed along the full length of the table and the contestants called forward one at a time.

As he stepped toward the table, he picked up the sensations he associated with his re-tuned crystals. He did not hesitate to pick out the correct containers for his collection but sensed it was incomplete. A questioning look at the officials prompted them to bring forward another container, this one held his torque and the belt he had crafted from some of his shattered stones. The course official asked him to explain how he had acquired various pieces and how he used them.

Junseo admitted to trying to boost a healer's strength and the Rainbow-maker nodded and said, "I understand your father is a healer, no doubt you pick up some alignment through him."

"Perhaps, but I do more at the clinic. Pretty much everyone there relies on jade. Maybe a couple use amethyst," Junseo said.

"Well, that would explain some of the tints in your clear stones, some of them are tending to violet, others have a hint of green."

"I didn't know clear stones could pick up tints," Junseo's picked up a stone and studied it from different angles.

"I dare say the phenomenon is probably much more common than the ability to discern it," the Rainbow-maker boasted. The judge who was listening in on their conversation frowned and shook his head. He then signaled for Junseo to lay out the rest of the collection.

The moonstones attached to a headband were the most neutral with only their own natural luster. The sapphire serving as the dragon's eye in his arm circlet shone as bright as the ruby in his phoenix ring. The tiger's eye among his prayer beads held and inescapable warmth. The Rainbow-maker asked Junseo to focus on each of these family tokens in turn. He complied with more show than focused energy so only caused the briefest flicker in the sapphire.

"Your longer association with these pieces obviously hasn't created an affinity," The course marshal said.

"I don't know why it would, not at my age," Junseo shrugged.

"Indeed," Rainbow-maker said but his tone expressed his doubt. He asked, "If you had to give a preference right now, what would it be?"

"Since I want to be a maker, I would want a more neutral sort of stone. Maybe just clear quartz more for its purity and versatility," Junseo's voice faded as he realized he had never heard of anyone with such an affinity.

Rainbow-maker Mein smiled broadly. "Even though you are used to your other colors, you did not pick any of them. Nor did you choose obsidian like so many of our other champions. We are trying to re-balance the teams for the next challenge and your answer gives us more options."

"It would have been better with larger teams. The injuries and withdrawals are making scheduling more difficult. You will be on one of the five teams left in this round. You can take your crystals with you. The team will get to pick one other stone. Choose wisely." The Judge pointed to where the other contestants were milling around. It took a while for the lists to get posted so Junseo needed to scramble to find his place.

Four young men waited together. The fencing star Bang Sie Woo nodded curtly. Junseo knew he had sparred with another one dressed in the prince's colors but blanked on the boy's name. The group discussed who was the eldest and compared notes on how many crystals each had. Junseo stayed quiet since everyone already knew he was the youngest competitor. The final member to join their group was the top archer, Choi Me San and since he was also the eldest, he assumed the leadership. He asked about their affinities and took note of what each brought to the group.

There was more obsidian, blood stones and jasper among the group than any other crystals and without having an established affinity Junseo felt out of step. It did not help that his total collection was still the largest. Sie Woo seemed very surprised by this but Me San remined him Junseo had to be at least fifth dan to be ranked in the top-flight in hand-to-hand. "Each level brings more stones, whether or not you compete in open tournaments," Me San patiently explained to the others. He then opened the discussion about which stones they should request for the task ahead. Each of the other boys wanted to add to their own affinity stock. Me San turned to Junseo, for his perspective.

"We need to be a team in a hurry so I would probably go for tiger eye to promote harmony or maybe turquoise for grounding. I mean we don't really know what the test will be but if it is anything like the other group challenges we need to work together."

"Interesting," Me San looked Junseo up and down. "I guess not having a set affinity lets you think about a wider range of choices." He nodded to the group before approaching the course marshal. He returned with a tiger's eye for each member of the team. There was immediate grumbling but Junseo was quick to point to how two of the stones were already showing some of their inner light. Me San had them all stand together with the hand holding the tiger's eye overlapping in the middle of the circle and their affinity stones in the hand on the outside of the circle. He started a low base hum for and earth mantra and the boys all joined in. The stones in the middle warmed, and Junseo thought he heard a faint chime. For a moment he felt like he was standing near a reflecting pool in a mountain sanctuary but then his attention was drawn back to his new team. All the boys were smiling with a calm confidence. Me San nodded in Junseo's direction and proceeded to inventory their skills.